Container cap with sound emitting means



1965 P. J. SCRAY ETAL 3,203,136

CONTAINER CAP WITH SOUND EMITTING MEANS Filed Oct. 1. 1962 Peter J. .Scray Gary A. Crews INVENTORS United States Patent i 3,203,136 CONTAINER CAP WITH SOUND EMITTING MEANS Peter J. Scray, 6626 Aires Road, and Cary A. Crews, 5411 Kincaid Road, both of Jacksonville, Fla. Filed Oct. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 227,177 4 Claims. (Cl. 46-175) The present invention relates to a cap which is primarily constructed and functionally adapted to be mounted on the discharge neck of a container but which is unique in that it embodies means which when brought properly into play functions to produce a sound, preferably a sound which is musical in character.

Stated somewhat more explicitly the concept has to do with a screw cap for a screw-threaded neck on a commodity bottle or equivalent container, for example, a plastic or pliable container, particularly the type which is commonly referred to as squeezable. As a general rule, a plastic bottle when the contents has been used up is discarded. It is an objective in instant matter to extend the use of the bottle and, as a matter of fact, to employ it as a noise emitting toy.

To the end desired the commodity container is equipped with a multipurpose closing cap, that is, a cap which when connected with the neck of the container functions as a closure. However in carrying out the present invention a sound emitting device is built into and constitutes a component part of the novelty cap. The added sound emitting device is normally inactive, that is, it is provided with its own closing cap and is brought into play only after the bottle or container has been emptied of its normally usable contents.

Brielfly summarized the novelty cap is regarded as unique in that the median portion of the customary disklike top is provided with a depending attachment which has a pressure-responsive sounding device incorporated therein.

Somewhat more explicitly stated the cap has a central axially bored neck-like portion, the bore thereof providing a passage for sound waves and having a vibratory reed lodged therein. The inner end of the neck in said cap is closed by an optionally removable closing cap, for example, a pull-released plastic cap.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view showing, in phantom lines, a portion of the container and more particularly the screwthreaded neck thereof on which the improved sound emitting main cap is mounted and wherein the optionally removable auxiliary cap is illustrated in both full and dotted lines;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the overall cap illustrated in FIGURE 1, the section being taken approximately on the plane of the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a view in perspective of the reed-equipped sound producing device.

With reference now to the drawing it will be evident that the main bottle closing cap, as distinguished from the auxiliary cap to be hereinafter referred to, is denoted generally by the reference numeral 1. This cap may be made of suitable material but in actual Practice, more likely than not, it will be manufactured from a suitable grade of commercial plastics. In general appearance it resembles a conventional screw cap and has ice an internally screw-threaded rim depending from the circular or disk-like top portion. The screw-threads are obviously intended to be connected with the screwthreads on the neck portion of the container denoted generally by the numeral 2. The expression container is used here to comprehend, more specifically speaking, a squeezable type plastic bottle such as is currently used in packaging, retailing and dispensing a commodity, usually a fluid commodity, for example, a detergent or the like. It will be noticed that the cap 1 is unusual in that the central portion of the underneath side of the disklike body or top is provided with a concentric depending axially bored extension which constitutes a cap neck. It will be further noted that this neck is provided with an axial passage 4 through which air under pressure from the empty bottle or container 2 can be expelled or exhausted. In commercial practice a suitably small adhesive-coated removable disc (not shown) will be applied atop the cap 1 to cover the hole 4 and will provide a dust and dirt seal. The disc will also carry the listed price and hence will function both as a seal and a price tag.

Located in the intermediate portion of the passage is the aforementioned pressurized air responsive sound producing device comprising, as illustrated, a base or suitable circular or equivalent collar which is tight-fitted in the median portion of the bore of the cap neck and which is socketed to accommodate the tang of an appropriately constructed vibratory reed 6.

Manifestly, it is desirable that the depending cap neck be of a length corresponding approximately with the cross-sectional dimension of the rim of the bottle cap 1. Also the lower or inwardly disposed end must be normally closed so that the liquid in the container or bottle will not enter the bore or passage. To accomplish this an auxiliary or secondary cap 7 is employed. The latter comprises a relatively small plastic or equivalent cap which is snapped into place and is normally in the closed dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 1. This auxiliary cap is circular and has an endless elastic bead which is of a cross-sectional shape that is snapped or seated into a keeper groove, the bead being denoted at 8 and the keeper groove at 9.

Reverting to further consideration of the main cap 1 it will be evident that the interior of the rim is provided with suitable screw-threads 10 to engage threads on the neck of the bottle or container 2. Also, if desired, the interior of the underneath side of the cap 1 may be provided with an endless rib 11 defining a channel 12 for reception and retention of a packing ring (not shown).

Referring again to the self-contained sound producing device illustrated in FIGURE 3 it will be evident that this device is substantially conventional in type as at 13 and includes a channeled base for the reed and which assists in channeling the air and slightly varying the tonal sounds emitted when the bead is set into vibration. The reed is illustrated in vibration by the arrow 14. The dotted line arrows 15 designate the path followed by the air when the air is being pumped from the bottle or container 2 by squeezing the same, causing it to function as a simple pump or bulb.

It is common practice as of now to market various liquid commodities and products in pliant squeezable bottles and equivalent containers. However it is customary practice to throw the container away when once the commodity has been used up. In the instant situation by providing the neck of the container with a special dual purpose cap 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 it will be evident that when the container or bottle 2 has served its initial purposes it then becomes available as an air bulb. In other words by removing the auxiliary cap 7 the neck 3, passage 4 and bead-equipped sound producing device therein becomes a sound emitting toy. It follows that the unique cap constitutes an innovation in that it has the capacity to perform as a regular bottle closing cap and, secondarily, as a musical noise making toy.

Although the cap 1 is herein illustrated as conventional in appearance it is to be understood that the size, shape, color and finish can be varied. For example, it may be molded to represent a doll, figurine, hat or the like.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modificatoins and changes Will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A screw cap for use on the screw-threaded neck of a squeeze-type plastic commodity bottle comprising a body portion marginally provided with a rim portion, said body portion being further provided with a centrally disposed axially bored neck, the bore of said neck providing an open-ended air passage, an air pressure responattachment to a neck on a squeeze-type plastic bottle, em- 3 bodying a first cap having a disk-like body portion provided marginally with a depending cap attaching and retaining rim, the central portion of said body portion having an aperture and said apertured portion being provided with an integral depending neck having an axial openended bore communicable with said aperture and providing an air passage, and an air pressure responsive sound making device lodged in a median portion of said bore, and a second cap complemental to said first cap, said second cap being removably attached to an inward end portion of said neck and providing a closure for said passage.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a screw cap for use on a squeeze-type plastic commodity bottle, said cap comprising a body having a screw-threaded rim, said body being provided centrally with an axially bored neck, said neck being provided at an inner end thereof with an external groove, a readily attachable and removable auxiliary cap with a rim portion embracing said neck and having a bead adapted to be resiliently seated in said groove, and a reed-equipped sound responsive device mounted in said bore.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 338,185 3/86 Otterson et al 21543 1,055,681 3/13 Steiner 46-178 2,531,745 11/50 Schopmeyer 2151.5 2,631,407 3 /53 Rompel. 2,817,187 12/57 Auzin 46118 2,857,080 10/58 Elias 2151.5 2,928,208 3/60 Wintriss.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SCREW CAP FOR USE ON THE SCREW-THREADED NECK OF A SQUEEZE-TYPE PLASTIC COMMODITY BOTTLE COMPRISING A BODY PORTION MARGINALLY PROVIDED WITH A RIM PORTION, SAID BODY PORTION BEING FURTHER PROVIDED WITH A CENTRALLY DISPOSED AXIALLY BORED NECK, THE BORE OF SAID NECK PROVIDING AN OPEN-ENDED AIR PASSAGE, AN AIR PRESSURE RESPONSIVE SOUND PRODUCING DEVICE MOUNTED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID PASSAGE, AND A SECOND CAP AUXILIARY TO SAID FIRSTNAMED CAP AND REMOVABLY FITTING ON SAID NORMALLY CLOSING AN INWARDLY DISPOSABLE END OF SAID AXIALLY BORED NECK. 